Watch Pin Cushion

Pin Cushion is an acclaimed British drama from 2017, written and directed by Deborah Haywood. The film tells the story of a mother-daughter duo named Lyn and Iona, who move to a small town hoping for a fresh start. Both Lyn and Iona are outsiders: Lyn is a single mother with a hunchback, while Iona is a young girl who stands out because of her unusual clothes and demeanor.

At first, things seem to be going well for Lyn and Iona. They move into a cozy house and quickly make friends with their neighbors - a group of middle-aged women who call themselves the Bridge Club. The Bridge Club members are quirky and likable, and they immediately embrace Lyn and Iona as their own. However, as time goes on, cracks begin to show in Lyn and Iona's relationship with the Bridge Club, and the two women find themselves at odds with their new community.

The heart of Pin Cushion is the relationship between Lyn and Iona. Lyn is a devoted mother who loves her daughter unconditionally, but she also has her own emotional baggage to unpack. She's a woman who has been bullied and mistreated her whole life, and she's desperate for acceptance and validation. Iona, on the other hand, is a teenager who is coming into her own and yearns to be seen as an individual. She's smart, creative, and has a vivid imagination that leads her on wild flights of fancy. However, Iona also struggles with anxiety and insecurity, and she's not always sure how to navigate the complex social landscape of adolescence.

As the film unfolds, we see Lyn and Iona's bond tested by a series of events. Iona becomes friends with a group of popular girls at school, but when they turn on her it sends her spiraling into a deep depression. Lyn, meanwhile, gets caught up in a toxic friendship with one of the Bridge Club members, leading to a betrayal that threatens to destroy everything she holds dear.

Throughout Pin Cushion, Haywood employs a surreal, dreamlike visual style that perfectly captures the film's themes of isolation, alienation, and yearning for connection. The film is shot in candy-colored hues that make the quaint English town feel like a whimsical, almost otherworldly place. The fantastical elements of the film - such as Iona's vivid daydreams and the surreal sequences that take place in a pin cushion factory - are seamlessly woven into the narrative, giving the story a sense of magic and wonder.

At the core of Pin Cushion is an exploration of the dangers of conformity and the importance of embracing one's true self. Lyn and Iona are both outsiders who struggle to fit into their new community, but they do so in vastly different ways. Lyn tries to mold herself into what she thinks others want her to be, while Iona embraces her individuality in ways that may be seen as strange or even scary. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that conformity is not the answer for either of them. Only by being true to themselves can they find the acceptance and happiness they crave.

The performances in Pin Cushion are uniformly excellent. Lily Newmark, in her feature film debut, gives a standout performance as Iona. Newmark is a natural talent with a captivating screen presence, and she perfectly captures the complexities of a teenage girl on the cusp of adulthood. Joanna Scanlan is equally impressive as Lyn, bringing a heartbreaking vulnerability to the role of a mother who yearns to protect her daughter from the harsh realities of the world.

In conclusion, Pin Cushion is a deeply affecting film that explores complex themes with grace and sensitivity. It's a film about loneliness, love, and the power of human connection - a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Pin Cushion is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 74.